Couch.



No. 786,594. PATENTED APR. 4, 1905. A. F. OLD & s. A. WALKER.

' COUCH.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 28,1903;

2 SHEETS-SEBET 1.

' ATTORP? INVENTORS QB MM%6Z4 M.

PATENTED APR, 4, 1905.

A. F. OLD & s. A. WALKER.

COUCH.

APPLIOATI'ON FILED JULY 28,1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m INVENTORS' WHNESSES:

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES Patented April 4, 1905.

PATENT ()FFICE.

AUSBORN I OLD AND SHERIDAN A. \VALKER, 0F NEIV YORK,

ASSIGNORS TO THE HALE AND KILBUR-N MANUFACTURING COM- PANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A {CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

COUCH.

SPECIIIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 786,59d, dated April 4, 1905.

Application filed July 28,1903. Serial No. 167,295-

.To all lull/0771, it Duty concern.-

Be it known that we, AUSBORN F. OLD and SHERIDAN A. IVALKER, citizens of the United States, and residents of the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Couches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to couches, and particularly to that type commonly known as box-couches, in that below the upper and usually upholstered surface there is a box or receptacle in which may be placed apparel or other articles.

The object of the invention is to provide a couch of this type which shall be simple and durable, which shall desirably economize space, and which may to advantage be placed against a wall and not require removal therefrom in order to open the couch to obtain access to the interior.

To these ends we employ a frame in the end members of which is movably mounted the upper and preferably upholstered member of the couch. In a preferred form of the invention this member is pivoted at about the center thereof to adapt it to be swung from its normal closed horizontal position to a position at an angle thereto. Below the upper upholstered member of the couch we arrange a telescoping box provided, if desired, with suitable sheaves to enable it to be readily moved out of the couch-frame to obtain access thereto. The upper member of the couch and the telescoping box are provided with an operative connection preferably in the form of slotted levers, secured to one and coacting with pins or sheaves in the other. The coaction of the parts is such that when the upper member of the couch is moved from closed horizontal position to a position at an. angle thereto the box below the same will be automatically moved forward out of the box-frame, so as to permit free access thereto. In connection with the mechanism thus generally described we prefer to employ a locking device whereby when the upper member of the couch is in its normal horizontal position and the box therefore within the couch-frame the opening of the couch to secure access to the box may be precluded. This locking device is preferably so constructed as to be operated from either end of the couch and, if desired, may also be combined with lock and key. Normally and to prevent the accidental swinging of the upper member of the couch and the consequent movement of the box the locking device is in operative position. To open the couch in the manner above described, it is only necessary to operate said device from either end of the couch, whereupon the upper member may be swung upon its hinge or pivot, with the result above set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, in which we have illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figures 1 and 2 are central transverse sections illustrating the couch in closed and open positions, respectively. Figs. 3 and i are respectively plan and side views illustrating the couch in the two positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 5 and 6 are enlarged details illustrating the locking device above referred to.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters denote corresponding parts, it will be seen that the frame of the couch is rectangular, comprising the ends A and back B. The former are provided with ledges a, having sheaves at", and with guidebars (6 having sheaves (6 C designates the upper member or couchtop, here shown as comprising the ends 0, connected by longitudinal bars 0, across which may xtend the slate o This upper member is preferably provided with upholstering C (indicated by dotted lines) and which may take any desired form. As clearly shown in the drawings, the couch-top U is pivoted at c to the end members A of the frame. Of

course it is not essential that this connection take the form of a pivot, as the parts may, if desired, be hinged. The only'essential is that there shall be provision for movement of the couch-top relatively to the frame, as herein indicated.

D designates a telescoping-box, here shown as comprising the ends (Z, the bottom (1, and sides d. This box is guided in its movement in the frame between the ledges (L and the guide-bars 41 secured to the end members A of said frame. Its movement is facilitated in the frame by means of the sheaves (6, carried by the ledges (L, the sheaves ((1 carried by the bars ((7, and the sheaves (Z carried by the under side of the box-bottom (1.

E E designate levers connecting the couch top C with the box D. lln the present instance we have shown these as rigidly secured at their upper ends to the former and provided at their lower ends with elongated slots 1?, enacting with pins or sheaves a, carried by the end members (Z of the box D. It is obvious that this arrangement may be reversed or that the lower ends of the levers may be provided with pins or sheaves coacting with elongated slots formed in the end members d of the box D. These modifications being obvious are not illustrated herein.

In order to close the rear end of the box D, as well as to protect articles placed therein from contact with the levers E and sheaves e, we preferably provide the rear portion of said boxD with a supplemental frame F, comprising the ends f, lying close to the ends d of the box (and therefore practically inclosing the ends of the levers E, as well as their coacting sheaves a) and the angular backf.

As will readily be seen, on lifting the forward portion of the couch-top (J said top may be swung upon its pivots c whereupon the levers E will simultaneously move the box D outwardly to the position in which itis shown in Fig. 2. .lt is also obvious that the same result maybe accomplished by applying pressure not to the couch-top C, but to the box D 5. 0., by drawing the latter outwardly the couch-top may be tilted, as shown in said figure. For this purpose either the couch-top C or the box D (or both) may be provided with handles r Vi e do not desire to be limited with respect to the central pivotingof the couch-top C. It is obvious that the pivotal pointmay be nearer to one longitudinal edge than to the other, if desired. Thus we may locate the pivotal points dnearer to the front edge of the couchtop than to the rear edge, whereby the added weight of that portion of the top between such pivotal point and the rear edge will throw the top to inoperative position and the box to accessible position upon the application of minimum power. indeed, where this is done the couch may be operated by the mere act of unlocking it, the force of gravity being reliedupon for the purpose, as herein set forth.

Any suitable device may be employed for locking the couch in closed position. Preferably, however, the locking device will be such as may be operated from either end of the couch, so that when the latter is placed in a corner, and therefore both its back and one end are in contact with the wall, the looking device may be operated from the free end. For this purpose we have illustrated herein a locking device comprising a rod H, extending between and connecting the end members A of the couch-frame. Keyed to said rod are locking-arms 71., with which coact springs 72 carried by said rod and tending to maintain said arms in operative position, in which they are illustrated in thedrawings. When in this position, said arms it lie directly under the rear edge of the couch-top C to prevent downward movement of the latter. Coaeting with the locking-arms it are levers 7L2, pivoted at t and provided at their ends with pins it in operative relation to the upper ends of the locking-arms 7i. Said levers 7L2 are preferably pivoted in recesses in the end members A of the couch-frame, and their ends project through slots if in the upper portion of said ends A to a point where they may be readily grasped by the lingers. If desired, we may also arrange in each of said recesses a lock of any desired form and operated by means of a key to prevent the throwingof the levers and the consequent release of the couch-top.

Another locking device, which maybe used either in conjunction with or in substitution for the locking mechanism above described, is illustrated in Fig. 6. Here the lock is applied to the telescoping box D and consists of the plunger L, beveled on its lower end and contained within a casing Z inside the member d of the box. A coil-spring Z tends to force the plunger downwardly into engaging position, as shown in Fig. 1. A rod l, connected with the plunger L, may project througl'i an opening in the member d its end being provided with an operating-handle Z whereby the plunger may be raised from engaging position.

M designates a cam mounted within the ising l and adapted to be turned by a key inserted through the orifice m in the side member d of the frame. It will be obvious that on pressing the box D into the couch-frame the plunger L, assuming engaging position, will securely lock the parts in this position. By means of the handle 5 however, the plunger may be raised and the box D withdrawn. if by means of a suitable key the cam M be turned to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 6, the handle Z and the plunger will be inoperative and the structure securely locked against opening until the key is again used to turn the cam M, whereupon the plunger may be raised, as before. This locking follows from the fact that if, the box D may not be withdrawn the couch-top may not be canted to gain access to such box.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is follows:

1. in acouch, the combination with a frame,

tsetse of a movable upper member pivoted at each end to said frame and adapted to cant upon its pivots only within said frame, a movable box below said member, and an operative connection between such member and such box, substantially as set forth.

2. In a couch, the combination with aframe, of an upper member supported movably in said frame lying normally in a horizontal plane and adapted to cant only within said frame, a movable box below said member, and levers connecting said member and said box and adapted to transmit to one movement imparted to the other, substantially as set forth.

3. In a couch, the combination witha frame, of a pivoted upper member lying normally in a horizontal plane and adapted to cant only within said frame, a movable box, and levers secured to one and having pinand-slot connection with the other, substantially as set forth.

a. In a couch, the combination with a frame, of an upper member supported movably on said frame lying normally in a horizontal plane and adapted to cant only within said frame, a locking device for said upper member, a movable box below said upper member, and an operative connection between said upper member and said box, substantially as set forth.

5. 1n acouch, the combination with aframe, of a movable upper member lying normally in a horizontal plane and adapted to cant only within said frame, a movable box below said upper member, an operative connection between said upper member and said box, and a lock, operable from either end of the couch, for maintaining said member and said box in normal position, substantially as set forth.

6. in a couch, the combination with a frame, of an upper member pivotally mounted at each end in said frame and adapted to cant upon its pivots, a telescoping box below said upper member, levers secured to one and having a movable connection with the other, and a loci; for maintaining said upper memher and said box in normal position, substan tially as set forth.

7. In acouch, the combination with a frame, of a movable upper member, atelescoping box, an operative connection between said upper member and said box, and a locking device for maintaining said upper member and said box in normal position, said device including a rod, locking-arms carried thereby, and means for oscillating said rod, substantially as set forth.

8. In a couch, the combination with a frame, of an upper member movably supported therein, said member lying normally in a horizontal plane and adapted to cant only within said frame, a telescoping box below said upper member, and means intermediate of said upper member and said box for transmitting to one motion imparted to the other, substantially as set forth.

9. In a couch, the combination with a frame including end pieces, of an upper member pivotally supported in said end pieces at about its longitudinal center and adapted to cant upon its pivots, a box and an operative connection between said member and said box and means in said box for preventing interference of said operative connection with articles placed in said box, substantially as set forth.

10. In a couch the combination with aframe including end pieces, of an upper member pivotally supported in said end pieces at about its longitudinal center and adapted to cant within said frame upon its pivotal points, a telescoping box, an operative connection between said upper member and said box and a locking device for said box, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 25th day of July, 1903.

AUSBORN F. OLD. SHERIDAN A. WALKER.

Witnesses:

C. CROMIEN, E'rHuL G. KALLER. 

